DE19647947A1 - Discharge device for media - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a discharge device for media, which are gaseous, liquid, pasty and / or powder can. The discharge device is useful with a single hand to carry freely and at the same time with this hand to operate. Essentially all the parts especially housing parts, can be made of plastic or spray cast exist, so that their wall thickness does not exceed 5 mm or 2 mm. The medium should in particular be finely divided conveyed in a fluid stream, such as a gas or air, and in individual quanta dosed as precisely as possible and for this purpose within the device by multiple redirection be sufficiently swirled.

If the discharge device for inhaling a pharmazeu serve medium, it will be useful for funding Electricity is only added during the application, taking it beforehand is compressed much more compactly.  

The invention has for its object a Austragvor create direction of the type mentioned, with what disadvantages known training avoided or advantages of the above Type are to be achieved and in particular a precise dosage deep down to the inner end of a patient's airway sufficient introduction of the medium in the finest atomization Ergonomically favorable handling guaranteed.

According to the invention, means are provided for the medium inside half of the conveying paths of the discharge device very fine close, for example by adding one or more and moving the medium so that already exists larger particles into smaller particles on at least two opposing baffles are separated can. In the case of a powder, this can be with or without Airflow from the store first down into a trough baffle or guide surface, after which it through the Airflow from this first surface at high speed lifted, swirled and against an opposite wall is thrown, which may lead to a crushing of the clumped powder particles leads. The proportion of lungs common, d. H. penetrating into the patient's lungs Particles are thereby compared to such discharge devices significantly increased, which only for nasal applications tion or intended for use of the medium in the pharynx are.

The said first or another surface can also be used as Buffer or template for at least part of the Single application dose of the medium can be provided. Little at least part of this dose of the flowable medium falls then during the opening and if necessary afterwards on the channel-shaped upward extended template and with the only after that setting flow rate, this medium is from the template  lifted under vortex, after which it immediately went against the hurled the wall above and into it again the direction of fall from the memory to the outlet or mouthpiece is redirected.

The conveying flow expediently flows through suitable ones Completely sealing the storage space, so that in this Remaining residues of the medium taken to the outlet will. These residues also come into contact with the storage directly on the template, which is inclined Can have sliding surfaces so that the medium under its Weight force even without flow down to the lowest point the template can get.

There can be another between the memory outlet and the template Divider provided for fanning out the media flow be, for example, a mandrel or a tip, which also serves to open the memory and into the storage space or the medium contained in it protrudes.

The conveyor path between the storage and the is advantageous Outlet at which the medium is completely detached emerges from the discharge device into the open, as short as possible and from the swirl zone as straight as possible or only angled or curved once at an obtuse angle in order to to have low flow losses. The way between that Memory outlet and the swirl zone is shorter than that Flow path between the center of this swirl zone and the outlet, but at most three times as large. The means of Swirl zone can be with the center of the opposite Impact surface collapse. The smallest passage cross section the conveyance paths, which are advantageously smaller than the continuous ones constant passage cross section of the storage space is advantageous at the crossing, which is the narrowest part of  the two opposite surfaces is limited and the medium from the original into the one leading to the outlet End channel conducts. The latter can be constant throughout have cross sections.

The outlet and the outlet forming one end rectilinear end channels are at an angle to the storage or main axis of the device so that it is oral Use with the head slightly tilted back almost vertically can be held and the operator's thumb between the upper lip and the mouthpiece lies.

In the production routes, upstream and / or downstream A pressure-dependent valve opens from the storage space hen be, so that only after reaching a predetermined Negative pressure downstream of the valve the flow rate the valve opening is started suddenly and itself result in very high flow velocities. The valve can be a cuff valve.

These and other features of the invention also result from the Description and the drawings, the individual Features individually or in groups in the form of Subcombinations in one embodiment of the invention and can be realized in other areas. Execution Examples of the invention are shown in the drawings represents and are explained in more detail below. In the Drawings show:

Fig. 1 a discharge device according to the invention in axial section,

Fig. 2 shows the device of FIG. 1 in a partially sectioned view from below and

Fig. 3 shows a section of a further embodiment with pressure generator for a flow.

The device 1 has a base body 2 consisting of only five housing parts 3 to 7 , of which only three firmly connected parts 3 , 4 , 6 form the entire outer surface of the device 1 together with a magazine unit 8 in the standby or operating state. The part 5 is completely sunk and stuck in part 3 and axially secured by part 4 . The unit 8 has at least four and a maximum of eight evenly distributed storage spaces 9 for the medium which are arranged directly adjacent to one another in a ring around an axis 10 . The axis 10 is parallel to the main axis 11 , in which the respective position 9 is in the operating position to be immediately emptied from this position for discharge through an outlet 12 . Its axis 13 is at an obtuse angle of at least 110 ° and at most 160 °, in particular 135 °, to axis 10 or 11 . In view parallel to the axis 10 , 11 , the outlet 12 lies entirely within the outer circumference of the base body 2 .

Completely inside the base body 2 there is provided a fluid guide 14 or channeling connecting its two ends, between the ends of which there is a storage outlet 15 in order to discharge the medium. The outlet 15 is at a substantially smaller distance from the upstream end of the guide 14 than from its outlet end 12 . The outlet 15 is formed by one end of an elongated, separate storage body 16 with an elongated storage space 17 which is coaxial with the axis 11 in the emptying position. The dimensionally stable body 16 is formed by a two-part capsule made of hard gelatin or the like, the two sleeve-shaped parts of which are axially fitted closely together and the ends of which are turned away from one another are hemispherical, so that the medium contained in the space 17 before opening with a device 18 is packed tightly and completely or only partially fills the room 17 as a single application dose. The body 16, which can only be opened by destruction, or the space 17 forms, in operation, a section of the guide 14 which extends over its entire length, the openings at both ends of which are in a throttle-like manner much narrower than the continuously constant passage cross section of the part of the section between the ends Room 17 .

The exposed outer casing 19 of the device 1 , formed only by the parts 3 , 4 , 6 , 8 , can be almost completely enclosed with a single hand. Within this jacket 19 , the guide 14 forms a zone 20 for swirling, crushing and finely divided processing of the medium already taken upstream of the air stream. In the operating position, underneath the outlet 15, a cup-shaped or trough-shaped template 21 is provided in the middle between the ends of the guide 14 or the device 1 , the bottom 24 of which is at a smaller distance from the outlet 15 than the length of the space 17 . The concave curved bottom 24 connects to a longer flank 22 and a shorter flank 23 , which divergent upward at an acute angle. The common axial plane of the surfaces 22 to 24 or between the axes 10 , 11 , but closer to the axis 10 , or the trough 21 is offset laterally with respect to the axis 11 of the outlet 15 , so that the outlet 15 is vertically above the center of the bottom 24 when the device 1 in operating position is tilted slightly backwards and therefore the axis 13 is flatter than when the orientation is vertical Axes 10 , 11 is inclined.

The flank 22 connects to the outlet 15 in a sealed manner and the flank 23 only extends up to a narrowed transition 25 between the trough 21 and the part of the guide 14 lying downstream thereof. The flank 23 extends to a rounded edge 26 which is concave over its length and which lies opposite an overlying concave surface 27 which, like the trough 21, is curved around an axis which is perpendicular to the axes 10 , 11 , but one with respect to the bottom 24 has at least four or five times greater curvature radius. The surface 27 extends in and against the direction of flow direction beyond the transition 25 delimited by the edge 26 , namely up to the outlet 15 and as a circumferential boundary up to a rectilinear channel section 28 adjoining the transition 25 and the edge 26 downstream.

The downstream end of section 28 connects at an obtuse angle to an end channel 29 , the end of which forms outlet 12 . The axis 30 of the section 28 lies parallel to the axis 10 , 11 and on the side of the axis 10 facing away from the axis 11 . The two channel sections 28 , 29 are rectilinear and have constant passage cross-sections throughout, which are larger than that of the over 25 occurs . The section 29 is formed by a freely projecting, tubular connector 31 constant outer cross sections, which is to be introduced as a mouthpiece over a large part of its length in the patient's mouth and is to be sealed with his lips. The section 29 can be slightly longer than the section 28 to the edge 26 . Trough 21 and connecting piece 31 lie on the same side of section 28 .

The trough 21 including the surfaces 22 to 24 , 26 and a first longitudinal section of the channel part 28 is finally limited by the part 5 , which is inserted completely counter to the flow direction in the part 3 until it stops and by the part also inserted in this direction 4 is axially secured. This part 4 forms a longitudinal section of the channel part 28 adjoining the part 3 as well as the section 29 , the connecting piece 31 and the outlet 12 . The part 4 does not protrude beyond the outer circumference of the part 3 and strikes at its lower, annular end face with an annular shoulder. The surface 27 extending over an arc angle of less than 90 ° and more than 45 ° is formed only by part 3 and is continuously continued at both ends, so that it forms an intermediate section of a semicircular or hemispherical or U-shaped inner surface of part 3 forms, at the continuations to the surface 27 of the part 5 with convex surfaces and following this the part 4 with a peripheral surface lies tight.

The flank 22 extends up to these curved surfaces and the surface 27 is penetrated in the region of the outlet 15 and in connection with the flank 22 by a transfer opening 46 for the medium and the air flow. The passage cross-section of this, located in the axis 11 transition opening 46 ent speaks the largest passage cross-section of the space 17 , but the width of the transition opening 46 is greater than the largest width of the space 17th The trough 21 lies between the axes 11 , 30 and the greatest width of the trough 21 is greater at the level of the edge 26 than the associated depth of this trough 21 . The parallel to the drawing plane boundaries of the Kanalab sections 21 , 25 , 28 can be approximately flat and parallel to each other, so that the device in the associated area in web view is web-shaped. This area can be curved like the surfaces mentioned, but also in a rotation around the axis 11 .

At a distance above the arrangements 12 , 29 , 31 , the part 4 of the body 2 forms a spherically curved handle 32 which, at a protruding, acute angle, connects perpendicular to the axis 11 at the rear end of the outer circumference of the mouthpiece 31 and to the area distant therefrom increases to the outer circumference of the jacket 19 . The other handle 33 is formed by the rear end of the body 2 , namely the outside of the end wall of the part 6 , so that the two handles form a handle 32 , 33 , in which the thumb on the handle 32 and other fingers of the same hand in a clip-like manner rest on the handle 33 facing away from it, while the mouthpiece 31 is inserted between the lips of the patient and the 32 convex hand has supporting fingers on the upper lip of the patient as well as with its side facing away from the outer circumference of the mouthpiece 31 . The handles 32 , 33 are fixed to one another during the entire operation and discharge.

The unit 8 has a magazine body 34 which can be moved about the axis 10 and which is axially fixed between the parts 3 , 6 and on the side facing the part 6 exchangeably carries a magazine insert 35 with the number of storage bodies 16 mentioned . The body 34 has, for each space 9, a sleeve-shaped holder 36 which projects freely in the flow direction and which tightly seals only the one lower end of the body 16 and forms a stop for the lower, curved end face of the body 16 by narrowing. A corresponding, only in the flow direction existing, but much shorter bracket 37 also has the insert 35 for each place 9 . This bracket 37 , which protrudes only over the lower end of the otherwise circular or disk-shaped insert 35 , engages with a conical outer circumference in a conical inner surface at the rear end of the bracket 36 , so that it narrows radially close to the outer circumference of the narrower part of the body 16 rests, the enlarged cover part of which can rest with its end face on the upper end face of the insert disk 35 . As a result, this rear end or the cover part protrudes into the interior of part 6 without contact in the direction of flow, while the lower longitudinal section lies completely in the holders 36 , 37 and passes through the bodies 34 , 35 . The body 34 , which is formed in one piece like each of the other parts 3 to 7 , 35 , has on the outermost circumference a jacket 38 , on the inner circumference of which, at a distance between its ends, there is an end wall 39 , on the undersides of which the holders 36 protrude and rest whose upper end face lies against the insert 35 . The outer circumference of the jacket 38 forms a handle 40 and is freely accessible for actuation about the axis 10 over an arc angle of at least 90 ° or 160 ° and at most 220 °, in particular only 180 °, on the outer circumference of the bodies 3 , 6 . In the operating position is the narrowed, the outlet 15 surrounding the end of the bracket 36 immediately adjacent to the transition opening 46 in the surface 27 or to the outside of the curved wall 47 which forms the surface 27 .

The body 34 lying completely on this outside is rotatably mounted directly on the part 3 with two concentric bearings and axially secured in the opposite direction. The bearing parts formed in one piece with part 3 are formed by two bearing bodies lying one inside the other, such as sleeves protruding freely against the direction of flow, which slide with their end faces on the underside of wall 39 . The outer sleeve of the bearing 41 slides with its outer circumference on the inner circumference of the casing 38 and with its inner circumference on the outer circumferences of the brackets 36 . The inner sleeve of the bearing 42 also slides with its outer circumference on the outer circumferences of the brackets 36 , which together form an inner circumference for this purpose. The transition opening adjoining the outlet 15 lies between the two sleeves, the two sleeves merging in one piece into the curved wall of the surface 27 . Since the sleeve of the bearing 41 is provided eccentrically to the axis 11 of the housing part 3 , 4 of the body 2 adjoining it, it protrudes over the parts 3 , 4 on the side remote from the handle 32 . For Axialsiche tion, a snap connection can be provided on one of the sleeves, in particular between the outer circumference of the inner sleeve and the body 34 , so that after complete removal of part 6 of the insert 35 including the emptied th body 16 can be pulled out against the direction of flow, without detaching the body 34 from the bearing 41 , 42 .

Another radial and axial bearing is provided on the upper side of the body 35 , 39 , for which purpose the casing 43 of the part 6 slides on this side on the inner circumference of the casing 38 and on the upper end face of the body 35 . As a result, the body 35 is kept in close contact with the top of the wall 39 . The jacket 43 also forms the outer jacket of part 6 only over a partial circumference, since it lies eccentrically to this outer jacket. Outside the bearing member 43 , this outer jacket engages firmly in the interior of the jacket of part 3 , whereby it can be secured against being pulled off by a resilient snap catch and can nevertheless be detached against the direction of flow by using a correspondingly high pulling force. After this detachment, the body 35 with the bodies 16 is freely accessible for replacement.

The device 18 has two opening members 44 , 45 lying opposite one another in the axis 11 , which can be formed by metal tips and serve to break open the end walls of the capsule 16 during the switching movement of the unit 8 . The capsule 16 is thereby caught in the last phase of the transfer into the operating position by the members 44 , 45 and splintered at the ends so that the tips then protrude into the space 17 and are each surrounded by a jagged opening. The link 44 passes through the associated transition opening 46 of the curved wall 47 and can be secured to it with the arms of a star-shaped holder. The outer circumference of this tip 44 forms a guide surface through which the medium and the air flow are expanded into an enveloping flow. The rear tip 45 is attached to the inside of the end wall of the part 3 so that the tips 44 , 45 are directed coaxially against each other.

To use the device 1 , the ring 38 , which can be provided with a display device for its rotational position and resiliently engages in each operating position, is rotated until the next capsule 16 lies in the axis 11 and is then opened at both ends. As a result of this opening, part of the medium trickles over the tip 44 along the flanks 22 or 23 onto the bottom 24 of the trough 21 , specifically after leaving the tip 44 over a free fall distance. The patient then sucks on the mouthpiece 31 , so that air is drawn in from outside through openings in which the upper end of the capsule 16 and the tip 45 receive air and flows through the upper opening of the capsule 16 into the space 17 .

The air flows through the space 17 , entraining the rest of the medium still in this space 17 , flows through the outlet 15 around the tip 44 directly into the opening 46 and from this against the flank 22 closer to the outlet 12 , so that the latter Delivery flow is deflected back upwards along the flank 22 and the bottom 24 and is directed against the surface 27 , tearing off at the edge 26 . Here, the flow takes the medium in the trough 21 with it. In the region of the trough 21 , a roller flow can arise briefly, however, the delivery flow passes through the suction under flow acceleration through the transition 25 into the channel 28 , 29 , where flow calming takes place and continues to the outlet 12 . When it hits surface 27 , against which flank 23 lies on a radius beam, larger media particles are crushed by impact. For the next application, the unit 8 is rotated by one place 9 . The unit 8 can only be rotated in one direction with a freewheel lock.

Downstream from the outlet 15 and the overflow 25 is expedient SSIG a z in the channel 28th B. between the parts 3 , 4 inserted sieve 48 or a filter is provided so that any chipped particles of the capsule 16 or too large media particles cannot get into the throat of the patient. Furthermore, a valve 49 can be provided in the flow path, namely upstream or downstream of the space 17 , which opens depending on the pressure when a lower pressure is present downstream than upstream. This valve can have a constant or decreasing opening force with increasing opening, so that it suddenly opens completely after the opening and the flow is released impulsar term. The pressure-dependent return to the closed position valve 49 may be close to the outlet 12 within the channel 29 , so that the upstream portion of the guide 14 is tightly closed during the rest periods against the ingress of contaminants. The part 7 is designed as a protective cap, which is to be pulled off completely axially for use and, in the protective position, receives the socket 31 including the opening 12 and the entire part 4 and the lower section of the part 3 in a sealed manner.

In Fig. 3 only the upper portion of the device is shown from part 6 , on the top of which an air pump 50 is arranged as a pressure generator. The upper end wall of part 6 does not form a handle here, but has an upwardly projecting jacket 52 , in which a cup-shaped piston 41 is firmly inserted with its jacket up to the stop on the end wall of part 6 so that its enlarged piston lip protrudes over the upper end of the jacket 52 . The piston lip slides on a cylinder 53 , which closely surrounds the outer circumference of the casing 52 and can be pushed down against the force of a spring 54 against the end wall of the part 6 , for air through an opening 55 in the piston head and in the end wall of the part 6 to the capsule 16 around the tip 45 . The pump 50 lies in the axis 11 and the end wall of the cylinder 53 forms the movable handle 33 , after its release the pump returns to its starting position by drawing in fresh air. Here, the path through the opening 55 can be closed against suction by a valve, for example the valve 49 . In this embodiment too, the air flow can be generated solely by suction through the opening 12 and can be increased at any time by actuating the pump 50 . In Fig. 3, the insert 35 is in its change position by itself and without insert 34 Darge.

All of the stated effects and properties, such as layers, sizes, etc., can be provided exactly as described or only approximately or essentially as described and, depending on the application, can also vary greatly. The Vorrich device can be designed to scale according to FIGS . 1 to 3. The boundary surfaces of the areas that come into contact with the medium, in particular areas 12 , 14 , 18 , 20 to 29 , 44 to 46 , 48 and 49, can be coated with a non-stick or antistatic coating made of metal and / or plastic, such as Tetrafluoroethylene. Adhesion of the medium by electrical charging or the like can thereby be avoided. The coating is only a few µm thin and can be applied to the surfaces of the areas mentioned by painting, gluing, printing or the like.

Claims (11)

1. Discharge device for media, in particular powder or the like, with a base body ( 2 ) and a receptacle with at least one storage space ( 9 ) for the medium pre-portioned to at least one separate single application dose in a storage space ( 17 ), with discharge actuation in a standby state of the discharge device ( 1 ), the respective individual dose is to be conveyed with a flow through a fluid guide ( 14 ) through an outlet ( 12 ) from the discharge device ( 1 ), characterized by means for transferring and depositing at least a part of each pre-portioned single dose to at least one intermediate template ( 21 ), from which the medium is to be taken up with the flow. 2. discharge device for media according to claim 1, characterized in that the outlet ( 12 ) comminution means ( 20 ) for spatially expanding disintegration of the medium in fine particles are connected upstream, that in particular the comminution means ( 20 ) are at least partially in the fluid guide ( 14 ) and that the size reduction means ( 20 ) are preferably at least partially formed by a flow accelerator, a swirl zone, an impact surface ( 27 ) and / or a sieve ( 48 ). 3. Discharge device for media according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that between a storage space ( 9 ) and the template ( 21 ) at least one drop path for transferring the medium to the template ( 21 ) is provided under weight force, in particular that the drop path has free fall distance and / or a sloping guideway ( 22 , 23 ) and that preferably the fall path continues uninterrupted from an exit ( 15 ) of the storage space ( 9 ) to the template ( 21 ). 4. discharge device according to one of the preceding Ansprü surface, characterized in that the template ( 21 ) is bowl-shaped with in the ready position trichterför mig upwardly enlarged shell opening and / or concavely curved shell bottom ( 24 ) that in particular the template ( 21 ) on one Side ( 22 ) up to a discharge opening ( 15 , 46 ) for the medium is essentially completely closed and on another side ( 23 ) via an overflow opening ( 25 ) to at least one channel ( 28 , 29 ) of the fluid guide ( 14 ) leading away. is connected and that the template ( 21 ) is preferably channel-shaped with channel edges ( 22 , 23 ) of different heights. 5. discharge device according to one of the preceding Ansprü surface, characterized in that in the region of the template ( 21 ) from the bottom ( 24 ) first ascending and then a descending channel section ( 28 ) of the fluid guide ( 14 ) is provided that in particular both Channel sections including the transition ( 25 ) between them are delimited by a concave guide surface ( 27 ) opposite the template ( 21 ) and that preferably the sloping channel section ( 28 , 29 ) under the template ( 21 ) obliquely to the outlet ( 12 ) runs. 6. discharge device according to one of the preceding Ansprü surface, characterized in that the storage space ( 9 ) is provided immediately above the template ( 21 ), that in particular the storage space ( 17 ) is elongated in the vertical direction and that preferably the storage space ( 17 ) in the ready state is open at both ends and forms a storage channel for the flow. 7. Discharge device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the storage space ( 17 ) is formed by a completely closed capsule ( 16 ), that in particular for opening the storage space ( 17 ) by destroying a storage wall, at least one in the storage space ( 17 ) penetrating opening member ( 44 , 45 ) is provided and that preferably the Spei cherplatz ( 9 ) for opening the storage space ( 17 ) transversely opposite the needle-shaped opening member ( 44 , 45 ) can be converted into the ready state. 8. Discharge device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of consecutively transferable to the ready state, from one another the separate storage locations ( 9 ) are provided, that in particular the storage location ( 9 ) can be converted into the ready state by a rotary movement, and that preferably several storage locations ( 9 ) are provided on a magnet body ( 34 ) which can be moved manually relative to the base body ( 2 ). 9. discharge device according to one of the preceding Ansprü surface, characterized in that the base body ( 2 ) forms an outer housing from a plurality of nested housing parts ( 3 to 6 ), which together in cross-section and in the flow direction successively limit the fluid guide ( 14 ), in particular a second housing part ( 5 ) delimiting the template ( 21 ) and the beginning of the sloping channel section ( 28 ) on sides facing away from one another and completely sunk into a first housing part ( 3 ) which directly supports the storage space ( 9 ) and on which the storage space ( 9 ) 9 ) opposite side is used to form a sub-housing ( 3 , 5 ) and that preferably in mutually opposite sides of the sub-housing ( 3 , 5 ) on the one hand the housing ( 4 ) having the outlet ( 12 ) and on the other hand covering the storage space ( 9 ) Housing part ( 6 ) is inserted. 10. Discharge device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flow is to be generated solely by breathing air, that in particular the flow is to be generated with a pump ( 50 ) arranged on the base body ( 2 ) and that preferably the pump ( 50 ) on the side of the storage space ( 9 ) facing away from the template ( 21 ) and its actuating handle ( 33 ) forms a base body ( 2 ) on the outer circumference end cover of the discharge device ( 1 ). 11. Discharge device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one region ( 12 , 18 , 20 to 29 , 44 to 48 , 49 ) of the fluid guide ( 14 ) or the like is provided with a coating, in particular that A non-stick coating is provided and that preferably all areas that come into contact with the medium are provided with the coating.